JACKSON — The 97th edition of the New Jersey Open Championship looked to be a two-horse race entering the final round Thursday, but amateur Luke Graboyes had other ideas.

Brendan Hansen, a 17-year-old amateur and CBA student who led his team to a state title in the spring, and Grant Sturgeon, a professional who is representing Arcola in Paramus, were tied at plus-two to start the final round at treacherous Metedeconk National Golf Club. Graboyes started the day at plus-four, but his chances took a greater hit after a double-bogey on hole two put him four shots back.

“I knew I was going to have to shoot par, I was thinking like 68,” Graboyes, who represented Watchung Valley and recently graduated Cornell, said about his Day 3 start. “I played super nervous on the first two and a half holes and I hit my two worst three woods of the whole week. I then said I just got to start hitting the crap of [the ball] like I had been.”

The change in mindset certainly paid off, as Graboyes proceeded to shoot even par on the round to finish at plus-four to win the tournament. Yet, Graboyes greatest moment came while holding the lead on the 18th hole. After punching out from a wayward tee shot in the woods, the Hunterdon Central alumnus put his approach a foot from the hole from just over 50 yards out on the fringe of a hillside bunker.

“I actually got really lucky because I didn’t have to worry about [the ball] spinning because it would just release from the primary rough,” Graboyes said. “I had 55 yards, and I just told myself to hit 45 and it should roll down there. Thank god it was a one-footer, because I was nervous on it.”

Playing two groups ahead of the final pairing, Graboyes waited for his win as neither Hansen or Sturgeon were able to make up one shot to catch him. He became the second amateur to win in the last four years.

The course definitely got the best of the field in Jackson. Graboyes sank five birdies on Day 3, including three on the back nine, to score just the sixth even round of the tournament. Hansen and Brooklake’s Dave McGovern were the only players to post a round under par.

Sturgeon, 39, finished second for the tournament, but the local pro struggled to pick up strokes down the stretch. The Kentucky native and Louisville graduate recorded five bogeys on Day 3 compared to two birdies, posting a final score of plus-five. The inability to convert on key putts was a theme on Thursday, and Sturgeon cited this as his downfall during the competition.

“I think all three days I hit it great,” Sturgeon said. “I really putted incredibly poorly over the three rounds, so I was lucky to have a chance.”

Sturgeon had a chance to birdie the final hole to force a playoff, but he failed to come through. After a beautiful tee shot, Sturgeon hit what appeared to be a solid second shot, but the ball stuck in the hilled fringe rough instead of kicking back towards the hole. He then missed the chip shot for the tie.

“My caddie and I assumed it was long because there was not a very good reaction [from the crowd], even though I hit a good shot there,” Sturgeon said of his second shot.

After spending four years at famed Winged Foot Golf Club, Sturgeon was a favorite to win his first attempt at a New Jersey Open. He said he is adjusting well in his first year as a professional in the Garden State, and his standards moving forward have not changed despite a disappointing finish Thursday.

“The expectation is always to prepare to win and tee it up to win,” Sturgeon said. “Those were my expectations, but still, I mean still it is no more complicated than hitting your first tee shot and moving on from then.”

Hansen finished third at plus-six. He had a chance to force a playoff to become the youngest ever Open winner, but he posted a double bogey on hole 18. Wayne resident and two-time defending champion Tyler Hall failed to reach the cut.